A Tiny jQuery-Style DOM Library for Modern Browsers
Cash is a compact jQuery alternative that brings familiar chainable DOM manipulation syntax to modern browsers (IE11+). At just 6 KB minified and gzipped, the library leverages contemporary browser features to keep the codebase minimal while covering most everyday jQuery use cases—without claiming full feature parity.
Interestingly, Cash is even smaller than Zepto, the library originally built as a lightweight jQuery substitute. Zepto has largely fallen into disrepair over the years, making Cash a more current option for developers who want the convenience of jQuery-style APIs without the associated file weight.
Why jQuery-Style Syntax Still Matters
jQuery remains widely deployed across the web—its usage only recently peaked and has since shown signs of decline, likely due to its bundling with WordPress, which powers over 40% of sites. For developers not ready to abandon the ergonomics of $ in favor of verbose document.querySelectorAll calls, Cash offers a middle path that retains the familiar convenience without the legacy overhead.
Replacing jQuery Altogether
For teams interested in eliminating jQuery dependencies entirely, the replace-jquery tool provides automated assistance. It scans existing project code for jQuery method usage and generates equivalent vanilla JavaScript alternatives, easing migrations away from the library.
